Pic 01 : What has the child and grandfather clock has in common? [read on]
Life is just like time - it's a one-way street. There is no turning back. The past cannot be undone. Only at best be repaired, as one wisen up in future to carefully avoid a repeat of past mistakes. When a student, I observe the playfulness of my classmates. The usual likings like cafes, snooker games or plain hanging about at street corner shops. To put things in perspective, in themselves there is nothing wrong in these activities except that if one make this a primary past time or overindulgence, then one can lose focus as to why we enroll in ACCA in the first place.
Why ACCA? Without a doubt its cheaper than an ordinary degree course but better recognition in terms of getting a job in the Prestigious Big 4 namely PWC, KPMG, E&Y and Touche Deloitte (some pointed out the 4th largest firm is BDO Binder if measured in terms of revenue size) . What is the catch? Well, straight from the gut it requires tremendous discipline to be committed to cramp intense knowledge in a mere 5 months in what would normally take a freshman or sophomore one whole year to complete.
Well learn from Bill Gates – he took ages to complete his degree in Harvard. Well, he didn’t exactly resume classes as he receive an “honorary” degree which means in his working life, he has demonstrated application of theoretical knowledge. Still he took more than 20 years to complete a degree! To be exact he dropped out of school in 1975, and receiving a degree on June 8, 2007. That amounts to 22 years. He graduated at 51 years of age! If your friends graduate now and 22 years from now, you could imagine that they would have a wife, a house(s), kid(s) enrolling in ACCA, car(s), a big belly, maybe even whitening or withering hair. Then only you graduate.
Pic 02: Dad, I finally fulfill your wish! Sorry, I took 22 years to do it.
Of course one would argue that Bill Gates saw an opportunity to develop simple software programs in what today is called “Windows” program. His infamous company Microsoft made him a second richest man on earth, after Warren Bufett – see my earlier article (http://marcusong88.blogspot.com/2008/08/external-strategic-analysis-with.html ). Of course looking at history, his actions are justified considering his achievements today. But one begs the question, how many would-be Bill Gates who dropped out of Harvard to aspire like him failed? Probably 100,000 : 1 ratio. Now, P1 (Public Accountant) syllabus on risk management would tell you that if you can’t see risk in the future and thus unable to quantify it, really the matter is no longer a risk but an uncertainty! Unquantifiable risk!
What Bill Gates has done is what P3 (Business Analysis) paper term it as the “Delta Model”. Briefly this means that a company race to pioneer its technology in an emerging industry to make it the standard accepted format technology in the international market. With more clients using it the likelihood is that through time, they become dependent on it and are “locked-in”.
Pic 03: My nightmare student has returned! Never does homework, miss classes, obsessed with computer games...
So the infamous Microsoft founder is an exception to the rule to drop out of school and still be fabulously rich. For him to drop out and pursue a career and hit 'gold', only to return to complete his earlier task, is rare. We can’t say the same for us, can we? Mr. Bill really is a bad role model for us! Don’t take too long to graduate. Average time to complete is 3.5 years. Stay focus on your purpose in ACCA course and graduate soonest possible according to your personal capability. If in a scenario, we fail a paper or two (dare I say, fail all papers attempted last sitting), buck up. Convert frustration into motivation! If you get 49% for a paper, the message is clear – You are not good enough for ACCA STANDARDS. You have to work ‘doubly’ hard, not 2% more which is a large misconception. And possibly you will get 52% in the next attempt. An 8 hour study regime for 6 days a week is a norm and expected. Its comparable to an office worker working time.
Pic 04: "Break the rules" (C.K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel) : Why not dawn on a "classic" graduate outfit? Cool and differentiated.
I strongly encourage you, be strong and be mature demonstrated by your commitment to pursue your purpose in campus. Study hard, as I am confident you will. (To boost your motivation, please visit http://marcusong88.blogspot.com/2008/08/life-as-student.html)
I have posted a new linkage to ACCA website on the left side bar for your convenience. Visit the site as often as possible.
References :
ACCA, 2008, ACCA subject topics and resources, http://www.accaglobal.com/students/study_exams/qualifications/acca_choose/acca/, Visited on 3rd Spetember.
Time Magazine by Lev Grossman, 2007, Bill Gates Goes Back to School, http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1630188,00.html, July 07
23 comments:
How long do you need to achieve your graduation goal?
Hopefully before my 10 years as ACCA student expires :p
You won't take more than 10 years 1 lar... You already being capable to make it till part 3 leh, that 10 years limit is like giving you 10 different weapons to kill a fully tied-up Alan Lewin who is kneeling in front of you. Just pick a few weapon you think that you can torture him the most, no need to try all weapons, lol~ (don't tell me you want to try rubber band also, if it's provided)
Oh ya... sir ah, I tried to study 8 hours per day like what you advise Ching Yong and written on blog. I just can't make it over 3 days :( Few hours per day still boleh tahan... but 8 hours per day, maybe I'm not dedicated enough. Must gip my greatest respect to lecturers like you, Menon, Mr.Goh & etc. Big Salute~
3.5 years.
Because i went in to march intake.
Borrow a phrase from Mis Joyce Low(Lecturer) : Never allow myself to fail.
8 hours study is too much.
Everyday, in Kuala Lumpur 1.4 million office workers put in 8 hours of work and no one died as a result. You will be in office one day. If the whole world is clocking in that kind of hours, now one say that 8 hours study period is simply too long? Preposterous!
if includes 6~9 hours of class daily, not that heavy.
if 8 hours after the hours of class.......
Mr marcus this 'bad role model' came up because of some sort of dissapointment or wat rite...i'm truly sorry for my ownself for the pt1...goin for the exam seems like not goin for it after all....truly regret it alot...i will change..
having a 6 hour class and another 8 hour of own revision will cost alot...sir can define 8 hours?i'm taking 4 papers....3 from part2 and one p3...
I'm glad you seeked calrifications. 8 hours study is on class-free days.
usually a 3 hour class requires 30-45 mins review. so if yu have full load of 9 hours classes, then it should have 90mins or so review.
someone said on chat corner, s/he doesn't mind following B GAtes footsteps. But that is looking at history, there is no risk as it already happened. What about future? if I propose to you to stop ACCA and spend the next 20 years of your life to research on cancer cure based on proteins extracted from ants, would you do it?
if you succeed in cancer cure medicine, you will be richerr than B Gates.
or would you say, "Nah, ACCA assures me of a job."
so do you want to take the same risk as B Gates in view that life is 1-way direction - no turning back.
Better way - 8 net hours. As a student, i know most of us usually walk here walk there, chit chat here chit chat there (even in library), sometimes read abit then dream away~ hehe.. so 3 hours of studying is really equals 2 hours! in short, study 10-12 gross hours :)
8 hours study on class-free days still boleh tahan~ 8 hours study after class = pengsan @@
even class free day i don't think i can last for 8 hours per day. Sigh, usually only 3-4 hours, wonder how i work in office hour for 8 hours, some more is a MINIMUM!! usually auditors work more than 10 hours? 12-14 hrs?? especially peak period?
But my goals is finish in 3 and a half year!! (CAT 1 year, ACCA (part 2 and 3) 2.5 yrs)
All the best everyone!!
1~3 hours of after class revision n study is useful.
8 hours classfree study time still sounds alien to me but will implement it, for the sake of Mr. Steve Skidmore and Mr.Alan Lewin
Any better substitute than coffee? I guess I'm immuned to caffeine
hmm, if im not wrong, Mr.Goh said he used one kind of ointment rub near the eyes lol! that one will keep ur eyes wide open. Anyone under Mr.Goh remember which ointment is that?
chris don't you have a magic for us to last forever studying?. I would invest in that magical breakthrough :P.
Must be 'Tiger Balm' ointment. but i doubt its effectiveness cos' the management themselves were asleep when someone quietly bought company's controlling stake in the stock market and took over the company. Nescafe powder still better.
BTW the owner committed suicide when realise his company taken over. its like losing the goose that lays golden eggs.
Lesson: sleep [being complacent] at your own peril.
Haha...study hard and play hard too. Life is all about enjoy plus working hard!
Don't stressed yourself out and got involved with depression :P
Bill Gates is certainly not a good role model with regard to his education background. But, he did impressed us with his wit in discovering Microsoft.
Two ways to say, be it a good or bad way, it depends on how you view him.
In my opinion, he's not a bad role model because I like to view people from the postive and brighter side. Think about no computers now?!!
Frankly, i couldn't careless if i take 22 years to complete my tertiary education, provided of course i am as rich as Bill Gates.
In that 22 years, he didn't actually goof off. He built a empire! And after that, he helped the poor and the marginalised in poorer nations in Africa.
To say he isn't a good role model.....well could you name me anyone who is doing more than Bill Gates?
I did try for 8 hours self study during as what Mr.Marcus did said but i don't think it is work for me,becausethe first 3 hours for me is still fresh but after thth 3 hours i don't even know what am i doing....
I choose to study smart than study hard!!
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